Knowledge base · Part XIII — Nominalization, Relativization, and Complementation · this topic as a network

107. The kuni Complementizer and Purpose Complements

How does the language form purposive complements and irrealis nominalized clauses?

12 sentences from 10 sources · every sentence names the pages it rests on

kuni in the complementizer system

Which complementizers can nominalize a finite verb phrase and what irrealis meanings do they contribute?

kuni expresses the speaker's expectation that something ought to be or surely must be. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) kuni is used for the future tense or gentle commands. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) kuni functions as a quotationalizer. (Refsing 1986: 34) kuni functions as a complementizer or quotative particle meaning 'that...'. (Satō 2008: 370) Expectative mood ('it must be') is expressed by the particle kuni, which also has the meaning 'in order that'. (Shibatani 1990)

The irrealis complement of ye and ramu

Which matrix verbs select irrealis complementizers and what stance do these complementizers encode?

As an indirect-speech complementizer, kuni expresses future events, inferences, or desired realizations. (Nakagawa 2024: 476) In Shizunai, kuni is analyzed as a quotationalizer because it is always followed by a verb of thinking or feeling. (Refsing 1986) In Shizunai, the quotationalizer kuni implies that the thought or impression is bound to be or will necessarily be so. (Refsing 1986: 253) kuni nominalizes a clause with future or prospective meaning and frequently co-occurs with verbs such as ramu 'think' or ye 'say'. (Satō 2008: 119)

hosipi=an kuni a=ye

return=4.S PURP 4.A=say

‘I said I would return.’

Nakagawa 2024: 476 · HK

ahun kuni a=ye akusu toykooripak

enter PURP 4.A=say CONJ be.very.abashed

‘When I told them to enter, they were very abashed.’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

pirka kuni ku=ramu

be.good PURP 1SG.A=think

‘I think it would be good.’

· constructed· HK

kuni p: purposive and deontic nominals

How does the formal noun after a complementizer yield purposive and deontic nominal readings?

míre kuni p ére kuni p nepki ne ki wa

clothe PURP NMLZ feed PURP NMLZ task COP do CONJ

‘making things to clothe (the grandchild) and things to feed (the grandchild) her task,’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

a=e=túskote kuni p ne ru-we ne na

4.A=2SG.O=tie.up PURP NMLZ COP track-POSS COP FIN

‘You will surely be tied up.’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

nen poka iki wa yayetuytak kuni p ne ru-we ne na

who even do CONJ make.a.living PURP NMLZ COP track-POSS COP FIN

‘Somehow, (the old man) will surely manage to make a living.’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

kuni ne: expectative predication

How does a complementizer followed by a copula form epistemic and purposive predicates?

The conjunction or marker kuni-ne means 'in order that' or 'so that'. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) kunine means 'so that' or 'in such a way that'. (Satō 2008: 53)

Morphological status and open questions

What different morphological analyses exist for the complementizer and what do they predict?

The conjunction kunak is derived from kun-yak and corresponds to the fourth meaning of kuni. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936)